Self-threading shuttle.



.J. NORTHROP.

SELF THREADING SHUTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. I912.

Patented July 6, 1915.

l r a JONAS NORTHROP, OF HOPEDALE, MA$SACHUSETTS SELF-THREADING SHUTTLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, ilflllfi.

Application filed April 19, 1912. Serial N 0. 691,912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JoNAs NORTHROP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, in the county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Self-Threading Shuttles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to shuttles for looms and more particularly to the self-threading or automatic type, wherein the filling carried by the shuttle becomes properly threaded during the flight of the shuttle from side to side of the loom. Shuttles of this general character are employed more particularly in the so-called automatic looms, which upon failure of filling either by exhaustion or breakage, operate to furnish a fresh supply without stopping the loom.

Various forms of threading devices have been heretofore devised to enable the shuttle to become partially threaded on the first pick of the shuttle from the filling replenishing side of the loom following replenishment and to become finally and completely threaded on the return pick.

The present invention relates to this character of device, and has for its object the production of a simple and eflicient device of this character which will not only facilitate the self-threading action of the shuttle and prevent misthreads, but which will also prevent loop catching, as hereinafter explained,be economic in manipulation, and readily attached to the shuttle body, all as will hereinafter appear in connection with the accompanying drawings of ."one form of the invention, and the description thereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of one end of a shuttle embodying the present invention. Fig. 2'is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the threading device and filling carrier or bobbin omitted. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3-3, Fig. 1, with the threading device in elevation. Fig. 4 is an end view of the threading device in detail.

The shuttle body 1 is provided with the usual chamber 2 for the filling carrier or bobbin 3, on which is wound the filling 4. Forward of the chamber 2 the end portion of the shuttle is provided with a threading recess extending longitudinally of the shuttle, as best shown by Figs. 2 and 3. The rear portion 5 of the threading recess is intended to provide avnarrow passageway for the filling, both walls 6 and? of such passageway being formed by the material of the shuttle itself, so that in the formation of the threading recess thesewalls are left with plain smooth surfaces presenting no abrupt edges over which the filling must be drawn, as sometimes happens when said walls are recessed for the reception of a part of the threading block. The bottom wall 8 of the passageway 5 is likewise formed by the material of the shuttle itself, as clearly shown by Fig. 3, and the surface thereof is in axial alinement with the filling carrier or bobbin 3, so that while the filling 4 is pulled from the end of the carrier or bobbin 3 during the rapid flight of the shuttle from one to the other side of the loom, and as it unwinds from the carrier or bobbin in a spiral course, it will, by its side and downward deflections, always contact with the smooth, unobstructed and unrecessed walls 6, 7, or 8 of the passageway 5. To further insure the filling from injury that might result to it, especially when of fine grade, by contact with any edge or abrupt corner as it thus unwinds from the carrier or bobbin 3 and moves longitudinally through the passageway 5, the edge portions of the shuttle walls 6, 7, and 8 are rounded, as at 10.

From the construction thus far described, it will be noted that the bottom 8 of the passageway 5 constitutes a bridge of the shuttle material itself over which the filling passes, and that it, as well as the sides. (Sand .7 of the passageway are smooth and unobstructed.

Beyond the bridge or bottom 8' of'the passageway 5, the threading recess -is'enlar ed both laterally and vertically, as indicate in Figs. 2 and 3, for the reception of the main portion of the threading device and the felt tension pad, as will now be described. The threading device; is preferably formed of sheet metal to enable itto'be stamped from a single piece, and comprises a to plate portion 11, having a down-turned ange 12 at that side of the top plate adjacent the thread eye 14 (Fig. 2) of'the shuttle. This downturned flange 12 is provided with .a perforation 13, ;('Fig. 3) and is received into aj'narrow recess 15 formed in the shuttle body at the side of the passageway 5 adjacent the thread eye lt, thus leaving the wall 7 of the Ill passageway smooth and unobstructed. Passing transversely through the flange 12 and shuttle body is a screw 16 which may be threaded into a suitable nut 17 secured in the side of the shuttle body, said screw being located below the surface 8 of the passageway 5. The top plate 11 extends forward and terminates with the down-turned nose 18. At one side thereof and projecting downward near the frontportion of the enlarged recess 19, is the twisted or threading leg 20, the lower end of which is below the surface 8 of the thread passage 5. The threading leg 20 is preferably formed integral with the top plate 11 and is twisted or turned in order to impart to the filling 4 a downward travel as the said filling is moved over the twisted edge 21 of the leg, and con versely to prevent or obstruct any upward movement of the thread, should the latter engage about the twisted leg during the flight of the shuttle. The leg 20 may be more or less twisted or given a cork-screw form, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, in the former of which it is shown as twisted through about 180 and in the latter of which as twisted through about 270. Extending down from the topplate 11 is a stud 22 which may be permanently secured to the top plate, said stud having an offset portion 23 and a foot 24 which is received in an opening 25 of the shuttle body, said stud serving to assist the flange 12 in holding the threading device in place, and as aguide \about which the thread passes when the shuttle is fully threaded, as indicated by Fig. 1. The top plate 11 may be provided with an overhang 26 to extend over the top of the passageway, and an outwardly and downwardly extending end 27 above the thread eye 14. Between the end 27 and the top plate 11, there is a portion or edge 28 which may bear upon the shoulder 29 of the shuttle body, the construction being such that said shoulder and edge portion 28 serve to rigidly position the parts relatively.

The top surface of the threading device, it Will be noted from Fig. 3, is wholly below the top surface of the shuttle body, and the nose 18 is so protected by the adjacent walls of the recess, that should a loop be cast over the top of the shuttle, it cannot be engaged bythe nose to cause unthreadin moreover, by the spiral twist of the threa ing leg, any tendency for the filling to rise above the end of the threading device is overcome. Between the forward end' of the passageway 5 andthe base 24 of the stud 22, a piece of felt 30 may be placed to impart friction to the filling as it is drawn from the carrier or bobbin, said stud serving to hold the felt against the front wall 31, Fig. 3.

From the construction described, it will be noted that the threading device may be stamped from sheet metal, and is preferably formed with the top plate 11 having the side flange 12 located in the shuttle body between the wall? and the exterior surface or side of the shuttle body; and that at the front portion of the threading device there is a twisted threading leg which extends down into the enlarged recess in the shuttle body and serves to impart a downward tendency to the filling during the operation of threading, and to prevent upward movement of the filling during the weaving operation.

Assuming a filling carrier or bobbin with a supply of filling having been placed in the shuttle, and the shuttle sent on its first excursion, the filling will be drawn from the carrier or bobbinand will enter the passageway 5 and locate itself below the nose 18. As the shuttle is sent on its return-excursion, the filling will be drawn around the twisted threading leg 20, which, by its twisted character, will, as the shuttle moves across the lay, cause the filling to descend below the lower end thereof, and finally take position about the lower portion of the stud 22, whence it passes through the shuttle eye ll. The shuttle is now completely threaded and if. perchance, during the weaving operation, the filling becomes slack in the enlarged recess of the shuttle, any upward movement of the filling is counteracted by the downward twist of the twisted threading leg. It will also be noted that the flange 12, together with the transverse screw or bolt, serves as the primary means for holding the threading device in operative position without, at the same time, necessitating any interruption to the smooth walls 6, 7 and 8 of the passageway 5.

' lVhat is claimed is 1. In a self-threading shuttle, a shuttle body having a threading recess, a threading device in said recess, and thread engaging means carried by said device and having a raised vertically disposed spiral-like edge on which the thread is adapted to ride.

2. In a self-threading shuttle, a shuttle body having a threading recess in one end, a threading device having a nose at its forward end within said recess, a threading leg adjacent said nose, said threading leg being twisted about its vertical axis and terminating at its lower end above the bottom wall of said recess. and means for securing the threading device in place.

3. In a self-threading shuttle, a shuttle body having a threading recess in one end anda passageway for the filling leading to said recess, the side and bottom walls of said passageway being formed by the material of the shuttle body, said shuttle body having also a recess or opening between the wall of said passageway and the side of the shuttle body, a threading device having at one end a nose and a downwardly extending thread V screw bolt extendin nmaeid at ing leg adjacent thereto and at its opposite end a downturned flange engaging the opening or recess between the wal of the said passageway and the side of the shuttle, a transversely of,v the shuttle body below t e bottom' wall of the passageway and engaging said down-turned flange, said threadin leg and down-turned flange being at one side of the longitudinal axis of the shuttle body, and a stud projecting downward from the threading device intermediate the threading leg and fllange.

4. 'In a self-threading shuttle, a shuttle body having a threading recess, a threading device in said recess, thread en aging means ormed so as to assist downward movement of the thread and to repel upward movement thereof and a depending nose at the upper end of said means.

5. In combination with a shuttle body having a threading recess, a threading device in said recess having a top plate, said plate having a "depending leg at its front end and also having an overhang at one side and at its rear end and having a depending nose beyond the front of the leg and a downturned part located to the rear of said leg on the opposite side of the plate.

6. In combination with a shuttle body having a threadingqecess, a plate in the re-' cess having a post secured thereto and depending therefrom, a leg depending from the front end of the plate, a depending nose at the front end of the plate arranged in front of the leg, and an overhangarranged to the rear of the nose in spaced relation to the nose and beyond the outer side of the nose whereby the thread first engages the overhang and then the nose.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JONAS NORTHROP. 

